Neumann U 87 Ai, TLM 67 & 102 🎩 Condenser Microphone Comparison, Review, and Shootout
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
- Compare the Neumann U 87 Ai, TLM 67 and TLM 102 microphones in this video. The TLM 102 is Neumann's most affordable large capsule condenser, the TLM 67 captures that 1960's sound with a unique solid state circuit, and the U 87 Ai is a studio staple.
All examples were recorded direct into a Universal Apollo X4 with no processing. Mic placement was measured for each example in order to ensure proper distance from the source to the capsule.
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🎥 Video Chapters:
0:00 - Neumann U 87 Ai, TLM 67 & 102
1:33 - Male Vocal
2:10 - Female Vocal
2:37 - Acoustic Steel String Guitar
3:28 - Nylon String Guitar
4:04 - Strummed Adamas Guitar
4:41 - Double Bass
5:29 - Trumpet
6:04 - Cello
6:39 - Drums
That natural saturation with the 67 is amazing what a vibe not having to much top end that mic has amazing clarity without any harshness the warmth is very vintage that circuit design was a major success with that mic it’s a hard mic to beat I’d say it’s gotta be one of the best sounding and made mics to this day hands down
Agreed. While it isn’t cheap, it is a great mid range price for a premium mic.
Sure. But you won't get this one as your only mic, it's too coloured - at least imho.
Best shootout video I've seen so far - love the fact that different instruments were tested too
Thank you! 😃
Well Done, Todd... So many videos / shootouts out there are barely worth watching. Thanks for all of the effort. : )
Thank you for watching and supporting the channel. 😊
You guys are INCREDIBLE at making mic comparisons. Holy crap! Probably the very best on UA-cam I've encountered so far. No cardinal sins anywhere, just perfection.
Thank you 🙏🏻 😀
87 is the best to my taste. I own a pair of KM 184 and a TLM 193. I am extremelly satisfied with my Neumann mics.
The clarity of the 184s for classical music cannot be beat!
I completely agree with you!
Is there any TLM 193.
I didn’t do it for this comparison, as the point was to do the entry level, top level standard, and then something in between. But I think vintage king did a comparison.
Excellent video!
I love my Neumann KMS 105, I’ve had it over 10 years.
I own all three of those mics and for the price the tlm 102 is a keeper. The U87 was best on vocals. I like the tlm 67 on cello as it seemed to bring the wood tone out the best and the 102 on acoustic guitar in a dense mix.
Awesome! I wishing I owned all 3! I had to borrow the 67. Thanks for the comment.
Recently discovered that the 102 has a foam lining in the grill that you can remove to make the
mic sound just a little clearer. Great video too¡¡
Nice mod. I guess that screen might protect the capsule, so just be careful with vocalists and make sure to use a filter in front.
I loved the TLM67 the most. All fantastic mics. Great upload thank you.
Thank you for watching! 😊
Great shootout, thanks Todd!
I appreciate you supporting the channel. 😊
Great comparison video
Thank you!🤘
Great video Todd !
Thanks Dom! You’ve been an inspiration too! 🎤
67 sounds great! Thanks Todd.
They are all great, but the 67 has something special for a reasonable price!
Very well conducted comparison, same thing for all mics without any unnecessary gaps or speech between the takes. The U87Ai just smokes the cheaper models. I wish it didn't, but it seems you get what you pay for.
Thanks! Yeah, the 87 has a certain smoothness that is just great. But the TLM series are built solid and great workhorses too!
I liked the U87Ai on everything over the other two mics except for double bass and trumpet, where I liked the TLM67 better. Perhaps on this specific female vocal example I would pick the TLM67 for its bit more opened top end. However, the TLM67 can be a bit harsher to my ear on some instances. To illustrate my point, listen to when the male singer says "to" and how the T sound is a lot smoother on the U87 than it is on the TLM67. I have heard this in other examples especially on male voices. I feel like the U87 is more natural sounding and doesn't need as much filtering, whereas with the TLM67 seems to want a HPF engaged to manage that low end thickness. Great comparison! I came here to check out the TLM67 and I think I may need to get myself a U87Ai.
Thank you for this video, finally a video where you can hear the difference. On all videos about the U87, which is a masterpiece, no doubt about that, BUT it makes all voices have the same characteristic, this is why you pay all those dollars. I think with the preamp which is a must anyway to record for a professional feel to it, the 67 brings out the natural tone of the voice much better. This is why in some instruments people like it best.
For the voice to have the feeling of the U87, you can achieve that with a good preamp.
Thanks. Yes, I try to keep everything as transparent as possible for this reason. Thanks for watching!
Excellent review!!!! Yes the 102 is a bargain for sure👍
Thank you for watching and commenting!
TLM 67 is the most underrated mic they make. Wish the cosmetics were a bit different.
Yes, has a great saturation circuit and the perfect amount of vibe to it. I don't mind the coin on it, but I get what you mean.....the look is different.
Brad, I agree about the cosmetics and I'm sure we're not alone in having that opinion. Sadly in one way or another we're (people in general) are often guilty of buying sound with our eyes instead of solely with our ears.
Great comparison.
I have never been a fan of U87 and it stays that way…
Sounds nasaly even on trumpet and upright bass.
TLM 67 is a winner on vocals and trumpet. TLM 102 is a winner on drums for me (bit mid scooped sound with shimmering highs on cymbals and full bodied drums sound but not boomy). Thats why i use pair for Glyn Johns drum recording. Sooo underestimated mic. Would prefer pair of tlm 102s anytime over u87s
Thank you for checking out the channel. I love the 87, but agree that there is a character to the 102 and 67 that is unique and preferable in many situations! Hoping to have more comparisons to come. Stay tuned!
Couldn't disagree more LOL Drums definitely won out on the U87 - everything was way more balanced - 67 sounded hollow and 102 mostly picked up the cymbals, the snare and toms sounded quieter.
Me too!!!!
me three...
very well done
Thank you! It was a benefit to me to hear them accurately measured and placed side by side. 😊
Happy owner of a TLM67 and absolutely love it! Have done some tests with preamps and comparisons with some other mics, you might find interesting!
Nice! I'll take a look. The TLM67 is just great!
@@ToddUrban Here you are, to avoid searching: ua-cam.com/play/PLZOmy3uf8uj3gvpUoJvZVUgAlnq_HK965.html
102 for bang for buck. It sounds fantastic for the price. It is small and can go anywhere. I’ll take the 102 and buy some other mics for variety and various applications.
Absolutely a solid mic and worthy to be in any locker.
Liked the U87 on vocals, TLM67 on instruments.
Definitely! Me too.
In the studio I have the TLM 67 to my taste it is more beautiful than the 87 because it is more Flat and then gentlemen perfectly reproduces the sound of the 60s sought after today I love the Mio TLM 67
Yes! My clients love the 67!
@@ToddUrban 🥰
102 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Small, but killer! 💥
I hated 102 because of peaky and harsh highs. It sounded tiny compared to my other mics. I've sold it and bought JZ V67 and the difference is absolutely huge in favour of JZ. JZ is creamy smooth on the top end and has a bigger low mids and the low end. But I'd love to buy TLM 67 or U87 in the future, I really like Neumann full-sounding mids and lows.
Nice. I’ve heard good things about JZ, but haven’t tried them yet. Thanks for sharing!
Those lows on the 67 are lovely on the male vocal perhaps pushed through a pre with a little top end boost it could be the perfect balance but maybe the bottom end was a little heavy on the double bass and cello (don't know if the HPF was in use?). However, it has to be said the 87 is the go to utility condenser. It's just so versatile. The 102 doesn't stand up so well against these other two though, it's boxy in comparison. That my 2ps worth.
No. Didn’t use the HPF on these. Set them flat for a full range. Thanks for the comment!
Exactly! I use the TLM67 through a Golden Age Project pre73 Premier with the air boost at 30Khz +3dB for my voice overs and is amazing, so crispy!
Thanks for the demo. It is fantastic. FOr my the worst of the 3 is the TLM-102. The U87 I like more for somethings like the trumpet or the Cello and even the drums. For the voice, guitar and bass I lked more the TLM-67. Probably my decission goes to the TLM-107 because I think it can fit better in all the styles.
The 102 is definitely not as full as the others, but is still great for detail on smaller instruments. IMHO
I got a question about the bass amps, so at the moment I have the
“Markbass CMD 102P 300/500W 2x10 Tilt-Back Bass Combo Amp”
And i was wondering if I can send the signal into the
“Markbass Traveler 102P Rear-Ported Compact 2x10 Bass Speaker Cabinet 8 Ohm”
Or any other?
Bc i saw a video of some guy using them like that and I was just wanted to know because I want more power for my gigs!
I think you meant for this to be posted in a different video of mine, but that’s ok.
Yes, as long as you have an additional output out of the amplifier, you can connect it to another cabinet. You should check to make sure you are properly matching the impedance of the cabinets. Double check the manual so that if you have a built in 8ohm cabinet, you get a matching 8ohm extension.
@@ToddUrban what if I use the 4ohm? Will something bad happen to the amps ? My combo amp is 8ohm!
Very difficult and hard decision . I am close to buying either the u87 Ai or the TLM 67……….
I like the TLM 67 because I think it has more warmth to my ear. But I also enjoy the warmth of the room of the U87 - AI
Can’t go wrong with either. If you want vibe, go for the 67. Want a smooth top end, go 87. And if you have clients that want the “standard” go for the 87. But they are both excellent.
Oh…. My friend . This is for me. I’m a singer . My dream is about to come true…. After many years…. Which one to buy ?
I’m a rock / alternative singer…. I really don’t know which one to buy…. Thanks for your comments.
Depends on the type of vocal you want. If you want a vintage sound with some added distortion and drive, the 67. If you want just super smooth and refined, the 87. They are expensive. I’d see if you can try them both first in a studio. It’s worth paying for an hour of studio time to make the right choice.
Thank, great shootout. U87ai cuts it for me, but to realy shine it should be paired with a decent transformer-based preamp (took this learning curve myself). Without plans to invest in a quality pre to smooth some of its transients, the TLM67 might even be a better option. PS: I just read 'rock / alternative' ... take into consideration max SPL of the U87ai is just 117dB w/o pad (and with 'pad on' it's 127dB, but the sound is ruined). In a well treated room one can simply step back a few inches to compensate, but the U87ai can get problematic with very loud voices in close proximity. It's ancester U87i had 5dB more headroom and less gain - and when you see long-haired dudes from the 70ies screaming into one in close proximity on old video recordings: its the U87i, not the U87ai...
@@rosevan5485 I would go for the U87 for rock vocals if you can afford it. The tlm 67 would be more for jazz old school type of vibe. The 102 is defiantly the best bang for the money but the upper mids are slightly too exaggerated imho.
the tlm67 shares the same capsule not only with the u67 but with the u87 as well
Yes! That too!
Excellent demo … I am torn between the 67 and TLM 49. I want a large diaphragm for vocals but also for instruments if needed. My pre amp is a UA 610… trying to get an old school sound …Suggestions… considerations???
Well, the 610 can sound clean or vintage depending on how hard you push it. I think either works well. The 67 is probably a little darker.
i have both. the 49 is optimize mostly for vocals(acustic guitar and upright bass too but i use other mics for that) it has the famous k47 capsule that sinatra, the beatles, aretha franklin sang to it..so you pretty good in that department..the 67 is much more universal workhours mic for instruments as well as vocals too.. also the multipatern two sided capsule/pad/low-cut options on it opens up a wider range of recording apps and it has the famous k67 capsule that dominated the late 60' and 70' instrumental/vocals recordings...its depend, soundwise they have a different frequency respond, tlm49 is more hi/mid boost and low-cut and the tlm67 is more dark/flat..both defenatly dont harsh at all like other 'modern' mics... if its between the two of them, i would go for the tlm67, but you realy need to heer them both and a/b them one agains the other to decide witch one is prefered for YOUR needs...good luck
You have a very nice tube pre already, so I'd clearly consider the real thing, U87ai. Both the TLM49 and TLM67 have this built-in tube emulation thing going, and to me, while charming on soft vocals, sound thin on louder passsages. The U87ai simply stands firm in comparison.
Thanks for listening and sharing some of your personal feedback on the mics too! 😊
If you want to add that real old school analog sound to anything, I would strongly recommend the Neve 2254 compressor. I know, its not a mic or pre but just passing signal through it without the compressor or limiter engaged will impart a LOT of analog character. It makes my UA 1176 sound sterile in any setting.
I love all of them for different reasons. Haha ha
Why did I like the 102 the most
Well, it is still a great mic. One reason could be that it captures more of a specific frequency range than the others, which have larger frequency extension. Therefore, it might help get something such as a guitar to sit properly in a mix.
TLM 67 all the way for me, even sounds better than the original version imo, for a tenth of the price 😂
Yes! It is amazing how close it sounds!
TLM102 is a bargain compared to the others. Being at a margin of the price of the other two, the sound is comparable.
Absolutely a great mic!
I own a TLM 67 and find it excellent on some things with a clean pre, and too dark and thick with a tube or neve style pre. But it has a certain nice weight or punch in the mids. And great on brass or bright sources. Voices seem to be hit or miss.
Yes. Great point. The TLM 67 is great, but the circuitry emulates distortion of a vintage 67. Therefore a driven tube pre might be too much.
What’s the female singers name ? I like her voice.
Lindsay Carter Oppler. She is a great singer and super versatile! 😃
@ToddUrban I'm a vocalist in the business for 50 years & I'm super picky! But I like her chops & note placement! She doesn't do all the things that i Absolutely hate that most of these younger folks do today. ❤️🙏🏾
@ghana1823 thank you for the comment. I let her know! 😃
Ups
Whenever I was struggling with a vocal to mix - it was 90% because it was recorded with a TLM 102/103. I think they just sound dead. They only work when using them solo for acoustic guitar or speech like broadcasting and youtube. The only TLM that is worth looking at is the TLM170. The U87Ai is rarely my first choice for a vocal. A Gefell or even a cheaper Lewitt were always better to work with for me.
if you using a tlm67 and you want it to sound like u87ai , you can! if you using a u87ai and you want it to sound like tlm67, you cant.
Maybe not 100%, but I agree with you that there is some crossover, and the distortion on the TLM67 is unique and very different when pushed.
All confusing matter.
who the heck is that male singer? ;-)
😂 yep. I stole your band’s lead vocalist! 🎤
He is sooooooooo good ✨
Jonathan is the best! Kills it on the first take every time!
U87AI sounds best. TLM102 performance, in this test, is thumbs down.
The 102 cuts great when needed! Totally underrated.
Great video!
Thanks Ted! 🙏🏻 Great mics make great videos! 😉